Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Physical Review A

Influence of phase modulation on the reshaping of ultrashort laser pulses in resonant three-level systems

R. Netz, Thomas Feurer, J. A. Fülöp

Published Sep 1, 2001• 13 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We present a detailed study of the interaction of ultrashort laser pulses with a resonant three level system (fine structure levels of rubidium). As expected, for low intensities a linear model and for higher intensities a semiclassical model (Maxwell-Bloch) is fully sufficient to describe the observed results. In both cases, however, it is essential to have an accurate knowledge of the incident electric field, i.e., the amplitude and the phase, in order to simulate the interaction process. It is shown that on small time scales the phase modulation of the incident pulse influences the reshaping process during pulse propagation whereas on longer time scales the reshaping is solely governed by the dynamics of the atomic system.

DOI
10.1103/physreva.64.043808

Related papers

Effect of a transient light shift on the propagation of an ultrashort pulse in a resonant atomic medium

Jean-Christophe Delagnes, M. A. Bouchène

An ultrashort weak pulse that propagates resonantly on the $\ensuremath{\mid}a⟩\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\mid}b⟩$ transition of a three-level system $(\ensuremath{\mid}a⟩,\ensuremath{\mid}b⟩,\ensuremath{\mid}c⟩)$ experiences reshaping effects on a time scale longer than its duration. When a strong field is applied (nonresonantly) on the $\ensuremath{\mid}b⟩\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\mid}c⟩$ transition, important light shifts are induced. We have theoretically studied the novel behavior of both the medium and weak propagating laser pulses in such conditions. For the transmitted field profile, drastic changes occur: at long times, efficient reduction of the distortion is obtained, while strong oscillations appear for short times, mapping out the dynamical light shift. These shaping effects, which are accompanied by new features in the spectrum for the propagating pulse, are interpreted as the result of the interference between incident field and induced dipole radiated field, whose frequency sweeps in time because of the induced light shift.

Physical Review A•Jun 22, 2004•8 citations

Propagation of a few-cycle laser pulse in a V-type three-level system

X. Song, S. Gong, Z. Xu

Propagation of a few-cycle laser pulse in a V-type three-level system (fine structure levels of rubidium) is investigated numerically. The full three-level Maxwell-Bloch equations without the rotating wave approximation and the standing slowly varying envelope approximation are solved by using a finite-difference time-domain method. It is shown that, when the usual unequal oscillator strengths are considered, self-induced transparency cannot be recovered and higher spectral components can be produced even for small-area pulses.

Optics and Spectroscopy•Oct 1, 2005•16 citations

Coherent propagation of two-photon quasi-resonant pulses in a medium of multi-level atoms

Farhad H. M. Faisal

Coherent propagation of a circularly polarized pulse which is two-photon quasi-resonant with a medium of multi-level atoms is considered in the adiabatic following limit. The relevant pair of non-linear coupled partial differential equations are solved exactly for arbitrary pulse shapes. The development of the envelope and the phase of the pulse as it propagates through the medium is described analytically. Perturbation theoretical results are shown to apply only for small intensity or small distance of propagation or both. Qualitatively different results apply for higher intensities and longer distances of propagation. These include strong self-phase-modulation effects as well as reshaping of the pulse envelope.

Journal of Physics B Atomic and Molecular Physics•Jul 11, 1977•3 citations

Coherent propagation of intense ultrashort laser pulses in a molecular multilevel medium

Szczepan Chelkowski, André D. Bandrauk

The Maxwell–Schrödinger equations describing the ultrashort laser pulse propagation in multilevel molecular media are shown to be analytically solvable and to reduce to nonlinear multisine-Gordon equations for certain models of the field–molecule system. Special cases of level schemes are shown to lead to soliton propagation. A numerical study is presented in order to examine the effect of nonresonant (virtual) transitions on pulse propagation and amplification in a three-level molecular system as a function of intensity and detuning.

The Journal of Chemical Physics•Sep 15, 1988•30 citations

Propagation of complex shaped ultrafast pulses in highly optically dense samples

J. C. Davis, Matthew R. Fetterman, W. S. Warren +1 more

We examine the propagation of shaped (amplitude- and frequency-modulated) ultrafast laser pulses through optically dense rubidium vapor. Pulse reshaping, stimulated emission dynamics, and residual electronic excitation all strongly depend on the laser pulse shape. For example, frequency swept pulses, which produce adiabatic passage in the optically thin limit (independent of the sign of the frequency sweep), behave unexpectedly in optically dense samples. Paraxial Maxwell optical Bloch equations can model our ultrafast pulse propagation results well and provide insight.

The Journal of Chemical Physics•Apr 17, 2008•5 citations

Phase Dependence of Few-Cycle Pulsed Laser Propagation in a Two-Level Atom Medium

Xiao Jian, Zhongyang Wang, Zhizhan Xu

The phase-dependent feature of few-cycle pulsed laser propagation in a resonant two-level atom medium is demonstrated by solving the full Maxwell-Bloch equations. Even in the perturbative region, the propagating carrier field and the corresponding spectra of the few-cycle pulsed laser are sensitive to the initial phase due to self-phase modulation. For the larger pulse area, the fact that the carrier-wave reshaping comes from the carrier-wave Rabi flopping is also responsible for this sensitivity, and the phase-dependent feature is more evident.

Chinese Physics Letters•Feb 22, 2002•9 citations
We present a detailed study of the interaction of ultrashort laser pulses with a resonant three level system (fine structure levels of rubidium). As expected, for low intensities a linear model and for higher intensities a semiclassical model (Maxwell-Bloch) is fully sufficient to describe the observed results. In both cases, however, it is essential to have an accurate knowledge of the incident electric field, i.e., the amplitude and the phase, in order to simulate the interaction process. It is shown that on small time scales the phase modulation of the incident pulse influences the reshaping process during pulse propagation whereas on longer time scales the reshaping is solely governed by the dynamics of the atomic system.
An ultrashort weak pulse that propagates resonantly on the $\ensuremath{\mid}a⟩\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\mid}b⟩$ transition of a three-level system $(\ensuremath{\mid}a⟩,\ensuremath{\mid}b⟩,\ensuremath{\mid}c⟩)$ experiences reshaping effects on a time scale longer than its duration. When a strong field is applied (nonresonantly) on the $\ensuremath{\mid}b⟩\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\mid}c⟩$ transition, important light shifts are induced. We have theoretically studied the novel behavior of both the medium and weak propagating laser pulses in such conditions. For the transmitted field profile, drastic changes occur: at long times, efficient reduction of the distortion is obtained, while strong oscillations appear for short times, mapping out the dynamical light shift. These shaping effects, which are accompanied by new features in the spectrum for the propagating pulse, are interpreted as the result of the interference between incident field and induced dipole radiated field, whose frequency sweeps in time because of the induced light shift.
Propagation of a few-cycle laser pulse in a V-type three-level system (fine structure levels of rubidium) is investigated numerically. The full three-level Maxwell-Bloch equations without the rotating wave approximation and the standing slowly varying envelope approximation are solved by using a finite-difference time-domain method. It is shown that, when the usual unequal oscillator strengths are considered, self-induced transparency cannot be recovered and higher spectral components can be produced even for small-area pulses.
Coherent propagation of a circularly polarized pulse which is two-photon quasi-resonant with a medium of multi-level atoms is considered in the adiabatic following limit. The relevant pair of non-linear coupled partial differential equations are solved exactly for arbitrary pulse shapes. The development of the envelope and the phase of the pulse as it propagates through the medium is described analytically. Perturbation theoretical results are shown to apply only for small intensity or small distance of propagation or both. Qualitatively different results apply for higher intensities and longer distances of propagation. These include strong self-phase-modulation effects as well as reshaping of the pulse envelope.
The Maxwell–Schrödinger equations describing the ultrashort laser pulse propagation in multilevel molecular media are shown to be analytically solvable and to reduce to nonlinear multisine-Gordon equations for certain models of the field–molecule system. Special cases of level schemes are shown to lead to soliton propagation. A numerical study is presented in order to examine the effect of nonresonant (virtual) transitions on pulse propagation and amplification in a three-level molecular system as a function of intensity and detuning.
We examine the propagation of shaped (amplitude- and frequency-modulated) ultrafast laser pulses through optically dense rubidium vapor. Pulse reshaping, stimulated emission dynamics, and residual electronic excitation all strongly depend on the laser pulse shape. For example, frequency swept pulses, which produce adiabatic passage in the optically thin limit (independent of the sign of the frequency sweep), behave unexpectedly in optically dense samples. Paraxial Maxwell optical Bloch equations can model our ultrafast pulse propagation results well and provide insight.
The phase-dependent feature of few-cycle pulsed laser propagation in a resonant two-level atom medium is demonstrated by solving the full Maxwell-Bloch equations. Even in the perturbative region, the propagating carrier field and the corresponding spectra of the few-cycle pulsed laser are sensitive to the initial phase due to self-phase modulation. For the larger pulse area, the fact that the carrier-wave reshaping comes from the carrier-wave Rabi flopping is also responsible for this sensitivity, and the phase-dependent feature is more evident.